Typhoon
If you are indeed a real Yank and worked in the US you would have to been making loads more money and taking loads more home with you each month with the low tax system they have there.
If as your name suggests you worked in the Orient you probably love the pay system here in the sand. Also I might offer that since you worked in the far east you probably made command fast there and now are captain at EK which improves your life considerably more than a lowly FO. I just hope you are not a DEC. Some of us from Europe did not have the quick commands that you enjoyed but had a much better lifestyle than EK and DXB entails.
I have admitted before that I made a mistake coming here and leaving my established carrier. Please allow me to vent about all that is bad here in the sand.